Gifted & Lit was created by Derek Collins; a Black educator and therapist based in Atlanta, GA. His wife, Robbyn Collins, along with Racquel Laborde own Gifted & Lit. Gifted & Lit is 100% Black-owned and the primary focus of business is education and family engagement.
In its inception, Mr. Collins noticed that Hip-Hop had a strong influence on the youth, especially amongst Black males. On his daily commutes to work, Mr. Collins noticed young men walking down the street rapping to themselves. He thought to himself, "Hip-Hop has a strong influence over our youth. If used properly, it can have a positive effect on the subconscious mind."
Unfortunately, at that time, and still to this day, many songs negatively influence people on a conscious and subconscious level. Mr. Collins knew, from personal experience, that following the wrong models can lead to poor decision making and negative outcomes. To combat this, Mr. Collins decided to create Gifted & Lit.
Gifted & Lit blends hip-hop and education to engage not just the student but the whole family. Our tools use culturally responsive content to promote social-emotional learning. These tools have been used at home, in schools, in community programs and more! We are endorsed by celebrities like Master P, Ice Cube, DL Hughley, Kierra Sheard, Cedric tha Entertainer and more. We have helped over 10,000 families become more engaged with learning with our positive music and messaging and we will continue to inspire the hearts and minds of young people.
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